AR98

An Assembly Resolution urging the President and the Congress of the United States to reauthorize the assault weapons ban.

Whereas, Americans own more firearms per capita than residents of any other country, and while the United States makes up less than five percent of the world’s population more than 31 percent of the world’s mass shootings occur here, and firearm homicide rates are 25.2 percent higher in the United States as compared to other wealthy nations; and

Whereas, Recognizing that assault weapons pose a serious threat to law enforcement and to the safety of the citizens in New Jersey, in 1990 New Jersey enacted legislation banning assault weapons and certain large capacity ammunition feeding devices; and

Whereas, In an effort to curb firearm-related violence, Congress enacted the “Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994,” which contained a provision to ban the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons; and

Whereas, This law halted the importation of assault weapons that were not already banned and required domestic firearm manufacturers to stop producing semi-automatic assault weapons that incorporated military features intended for combat, not designed for sport use, and ammunition clips that held more than 10 rounds, except for military or police use; and

Whereas, Semi-automatic assault weapons have become the "weapon of choice" for mass shooters, drug traffickers, weapons traffickers, gangs, and paramilitary extremist groups; and

Whereas, Despite the fact that assault weapons can cause devastating wounds, release more shots per second, and penetrate body armor, Congress allowed the ban to expire on September 13, 2004; and

Whereas, The legal market for semi-automatic weapons increased by 27 percent between 2007 and 2011, with an increasing number of citizens owning with these military-style weapons; and

Whereas, Assault weapons have been used in some of the nation's most shocking crimes, including the 1984 Cleveland Elementary School shooting in Stockton, California; the 1999 Columbine High School shooting; the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting; the 2009 Fort Hood shooting; the 2011 Safeway Market shooting in Tucson, Arizona, in which Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was injured; the July 2012 movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado; the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut; the 2015 shooting at Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California; the 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida; the October 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, the deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history; the November 2017 First Baptist Church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas; and the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper and in the public interest for this Legislature to respectfully urge the President and the Congress of the United States to enact an assault weapons ban including a prohibition against large capacity ammunition feeding devices; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the President and the Congress of the United States to reauthorize the assault weapons ban.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and the Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Majority and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the United States Congress elected from New Jersey.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the President and the Congress of the United States to reauthorize the assault weapons ban.

In 1990 New Jersey recognized that assault weapons posed a serious threat to law enforcement and to the safety of the citizens and enacted legislation banning assault weapons and certain large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

In an effort to curb firearm related violence, Congress enacted the “Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.” The law banned the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons. The assault weapons covered under the ban are designed with military features intended for combat, and had become the "weapon of choice" for mass shooters, drug traffickers, weapons traffickers, gangs, and paramilitary extremist groups prior to the ban.

In spite of the carnage unleashed by individuals with these weapons, Congress allowed the nationwide assault weapons ban to expire on September 13, 2004.

With the market for assault weapons increasing and with these weapons being used in some of the nation's most shocking crimes, including mass shootings at elementary schools, high schools, colleges, work places, movie theaters, grocery stores, shopping malls, and places of worship, the President and Congress of the United States are urged to reauthorize the ban on assault weapons.